What treatment is available for granuloma annulare?
In most cases no treatment is required because the patches disappear by themselves in a few months leaving no trace. However, sometimes they persist for years. Sometimes it is helpful to apply a strong steroid preparation to the skin or steroids can be injected into the bumps themselves. Small plaques can be frozen (cryotherapy). Topical imiquimod and topical calcineurin inhibitors (tacrolimus and pimecrolimus) have been reported to help individual cases. In very widespread cases, other treatments may be tried. None of these can be relied upon to clear granuloma annulare, and there are some potential adverse effects.
In most cases no treatment is required because the patches disappear by themselves in a few months leaving no trace. However, sometimes they persist for years. Sometimes it is helpful to apply a strong steroid preparation to the skin or steroids can be injected into the bumps themselves. Small plaques can be frozen (cryotherapy). Topical imiquimod and topical calcineurin inhibitors (tacrolimus and pimecrolimus) have been reported to help individual cases. In very widespread cases, other treatments may be tried. The following agents have been reported to help at least some cases of disseminated granuloma annulare. None of these can be relied upon to clear it, and there are some potential adverse effects. • Systemic steroids • Isotretinoin • Methotrexate • Potassium iodide • Dapsone • Pentoxifylline • Allopurinol (note: allopurinol has also be cited as cause of disseminated granuloma annulare) • Combination of antibiotics once monthly: rifampicin, oflaxacin, minocycline • Photochemothera
